Thursday, August 4, 2016

NAACP Calls For a Moratorium on Charter Schools

A resolution from the NAACP at the organization's National Convention in Cincinnati in July calls for a moratorium on charter schools. It isn't official policy until it is voted on at the National Board meeting in the Fall.

The resolution includes a number of concerns about charters. It states that charters increase segregation; some low-quality charters in low-income areas "mirror predatory lending practices;" the schools' boards are generally appointed, not elected; many use harsh disciplinary measures; and government oversight of charters is too weak.

The document states:

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP reaffirms its 2014 Resolution, "School Privatization Threat to Public Education," in which the NAACP opposes the privatization of public schools and/or public subsidizing or funding of for-profit or charter schools.

Later language, however, talks about making sure charters currently in operation are better managed and overseen, meaning it isn't calling for the elimination of charters. It states, "the NAACP hereby supports a moratorium on the proliferation of privately managed charter schools."

The resolution is stronger than language in the Democratic Party platform, which has similar concerns yet praises "high quality public charter schools [which] provide options for parents," but there's not a lot of daylight between the two documents. As would be expected, Democrats for Education Reform, which represents the "education reform"/privatization wing of the Democratic party, is very critical of the NAACP resolution, as it is of the education planks of the Democratic platform related to charter schools.